2 
GRAND PRIX, P. P. I. E., SAN FRANCISCO. 
New Decorative Dahlias of Our Own Creation 
The flowers are large and full, with loosely formed, Ions flat petals. Some of the latest introductions 
have a remarkably sU'ikinp: appearance, and are certainly valuable for cutting- or for decoration of lary.e 
beds or borders, possessinv; such necessary tiualifications as freedom of flowering, combined with size of the 
blooms and attractive coloriiiKs. 
■^EMBASSADOR (Bessie Boston) — Kindly note the spelling as there is another Californian on the mar-ket 
this year wilh this name spelt diiferently. If one enjoys working in the garden, this dahlia will be 
a pleasure, for it blooms so abundantly that it always provides work in cutting the flowers or disbud- 
ding. The very large blooms are of the deepest shade of red, or maroon, and grown where they 
re;eive slight shade ai'e nearly black. No better stem dahlia was ever offered for sale. $2.50. 
■jlrJ. W. DAVIES (Bessie Boston) — It was rather a dilficult task to name a dahlia after this member of our 
California Dahlia Society, who since has become its president. ",Iim Davies," as hi.s friends call him, 
grows flowers to perfection. He is a stickler foi- size and stem. This dahlia was his choice in 1919 
of oui- two year olds. It started out by winning the first prixe for a seetlling displayed in 1918, 
and has continued to impi'ove every year. The coloring is novel and difl'icult to cxinvey an idea of in 
cold type. The deepest shade of cei'ise at the centre graduating to a lighter tint, this blending of 
two shades of cerise creates an entirely new efl'eet. The .giant flower has depth, as well as size, the 
stem is perfect, making it as .good for cutting as exhibitin.g. It blooms profusely all season and the 
blossoms keep their great size and fine formation. April delivery. $15.00. 
•;/tKlTTIE DUNLAP (Bessie Boston) — Is not only a beauty, but has every characteristic which endears it to 
a dahlia grower. Blooms freely all season, has excellent keepin.g qualities, long firm stems, immense 
size, and great substance. If this dahlia did not have all these admirable (jualities, the coloring would 
make it iKjpular, as it is of the delightful shade of the American Beauty rose. The petals are broad 
but have a slight tendency to roll, the long stems are practically without leaves and we recommend 
it highly for commercial purposes. $5.00. 
•khA MASCOTTE (Bessie Boston) — Dahlia growers are always looking for something difl'ereiit in color or 
formation and nothing gives more joy than to find a seedlin,g which is unusual. This dahlia .gave 
us a thrill when the first bud began to unfold, and we have watched it with interest ever since. The 
imicpie coloring is a two-toned effect as the petals are a silvery white with a deep violet reverse. 
The metlium height bushes produce myriads of blooms on excellent stems. In foggy locations. La 
Mascotte, may take a iieony form, but it is the coloring, not the type which makes it alluring. $2.50. 
-ArMRS. MALCOLM WHITMAN (Bessie Boston) -Attractive coloring of old rose suffused with lavender and 
softening to yellow at the centre. This shading was particularly attractive under artificial light and 
the blooms were in demand for table decorations. Admirable, long, firm stems, hold masses of 
flowers aloft the entire season. $.1.00. 
ilfRICHMOND (Snell-Bcssie Boston) — A big rich crimson bloom whose broad, flat petals have an uncommon 
velvety surface. Stems \or\s: and stifl', blooms freely, and is an excellent bright red for cutting. 
Believing the i)ublic was tired, as we were, of the many old tune reds, we tried out this see<lling 
in 1919, and as a consequence bought the entire stock from Mrs. Snell and adopted her name, Rich- 
mond. Mr. Alex. Waldie of Santa Paula, California, fell in love with this dahlia, he tried it out for 
\is. and wiote: 'It is no ordinary dahlia, a good red is yet to be found and Richmond may be it, but 
I think the price is too low." But as Richmond is four years old and we have a bountiful stock, it 
is against our policy to place a high price on it. $2.50. 
-^ROOKWOOD (Bessie Boston)- Goes on the market this season as a pri/.e-winnei' of two years' standing. 
This dahlia was entered at the IS19 San Francisco Show for the best six blooms of a three year old 
not heretofore exhibited, and won the prize offered by Mrs. Samuel H. Taft, president of the Cincin- 
nati Garden Club. Permission was then given to name the dahlia "Rookwood" after the famous 
pottery company bearing that name. Much to the disappointment of the public it was not offered 
for sale last yeaJ-. At the last dahlia show in San Fi-ancisco. Mr. Wareliam of the Rookwood Pottery 
Company, offered a prize which Rookwood won. This? decorative is of an entirely new shade of i)ink 
anil of course diflicult to accurately desci'ibe. The color is more like the popular Mrs. Charles 
Russell rose than any flower in commerce, it is puj-e bright cerise rose, without the faintest vouch 
of majenta, and is as beautiful under artificial light as the Russell rose. The flowers are immense, 
with good depth, and are held aloft on splendid straight stems. The bushes grow low and spreading 
and are always a mass of blooms. The blossoms are true decorative type all the season and we never 
had a more distinctive coloring in the garden. The only place Rookwood was grown outside of San 
Mateo was in the Taft garden at Orneinnati and Mrs. Taft threatens to discard all other dahlias as 
being unworthy to grow beside Rookwood. at least this was mentionetl in a letter recently received 
from Cincinnati. Owing to large sales during the garden season, and a limited stock, only a l om- 
paratively small number of orders can be taken for this vai-iety. Green plants in May. $10.00. Roots, 
April delivery. $20.00. 
■y^SHUDOW'S LAVENDER (Bessie Boston) — No picture will do justice to this dahlia, for its color is 
changeable in dilVerent lights and seasons. The friends who compared the colored cut with the 
growing flowers said the picture did not do the blossoms justice. It was Mr. Shudow's favorite 
seedling of 1917 and hence the name. There has long been a scarcity of a good lavender decorative 
which would be true to type throughout the season in any location. This decorative was successfully 
tried in 1920 by friends in Los Angeles. Trenton. N. J., and San Francisco. We exhibited it for ihe 
first time at the September San Francisco show and it easily carried oft' the first prize for the best 
fifty blooms. In Trenton it also took a prize. The very large bloom is a silvery lavender slightly 
shading to white. In hot weather, the white will be more marked, but as the season advances will 
almost entirely disappear. The stem is absolutely perfect, long and stiff, and holds erect the big 
blossom. It will bloom constantly and freely from early to late season and never show a centre, and 
also has excellent keeping (lualities as a cut flower. One of its most unusual features is the attractive, 
lace-like folia.ge. The plant is a very tall and robust grower and in Trenton reached the height of 
eight feet. April delivery, $10.00. 
